NEW BUSINESS UPTOWN – Mayor Mark Smith and Third Ward Councilman Ray Greaves cut the ribbon on Feida Asian Market at 1033 Broadway, celebrating another new business in the city’s main shopping district.

Freeholder Jeffrey Dublin was sworn in as President of the New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC) on Jan. 29, in the Senate Chambers of the New Jersey State House in Trenton

NJAC was originally founded in 1921 to represent the interests of the State’s 21 County Freeholder Boards. NJAC is committed to advocating for legislation regulations and policy directives that empower County governments to operate more effectively and efficiently.

Dublin became a member of the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 2004 representing District 3 and was re-elected in 2005, 2008 and 2011.

Gregg Park still without cameras after Hurricane Sandy

The Hudson County Freeholders are seeking to restore security cameras to Stephen R. Gregg County Park in Bayonne after they were damaged in Hurricane Sandy last October. Freeholder Bill O’Dea said that he was concerned about the lack of security when warmer weather arrives and urged a quick remedy to the situation. County parks have been the target of vandalism and other problems, which were partly solved by the installation of camera networks, O’Dea said.

Rent control advocates meeting on Feb. 19

Members and supporters of the Bayonne Tenants Organization (BTO) that a general meeting will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 19 at the St. Andrew the Apostle School Music Room, 126 Broadway. Access to the school is through door 3 located in the rear of the parking lot located on the left facing the school.

Addressing this month’s meeting will be Flavio L. Komuves Esq., the attorney who donated his time and efforts to the BTO in authoring its initiative petition which placed the decision to retain rent control in Bayonne to the voters.

New date for UEZ/SID luncheon

Vincent Virga, president of the Bayonne Chamber of Commerce, said that Mayor Mark Smith and the Bayonne Urban Enterprise Zone/Special Improvement District will be hosting a business luncheon at Villa Maria on March 1. Representatives from the New Jersey Business & Industry Association will be in attendance. The New Jersey Business & Industry Association provides information, services and advocacy to its member companies in order to build a more prosperous New Jersey. They are also the nation’s largest statewide employer association. Its members, as a group, employ more than one million people. In addition, attendees will also learn more details regarding the Shop Bayonne Tax Card Program. Representatives will also be on hand to discuss small business opportunities in New Jersey.

Cunningham workforce readiness bill advances

Legislation sponsored by state Senators Sandra Bolden Cunningham, M. Teresa Ruiz and Fred H. Madden that would create a commission to identify policies that will improve the ability of the state’s schools and public institutions of higher education to meet the demands of tomorrow’s employers was approved recently by the Senate Higher Education Committee. The commission will receive input from two boards, tasked with looking at education and future workforce needs.

“In order to ensure that our economy continues to grow and strengthen, it is imperative that we have the foresight to prepare the students of today for the jobs in the growth industries of the future – including jobs in biotechnology and life sciences, engineering and advanced manufacturing,” said Cunningham, chairwoman of the Higher Education Committee. “Bringing together the state’s educational and business leaders to assess how we can improve key transition points in our residents’ training – such as from high school to college or from college into the workforce – we can decrease the state’s skills gap and increase workforce readiness, improving our economic forecast for the future.”

The two advisory boards created under the bill would look at ways to improve the ability of New Jersey’s schools, colleges and universities to meet the demands of future employers from two separate perspectives –educational and business.

Under the bill, S-2483, the boards would be tasked with determining how the state could improve coordination and enhance relationships between the state’s colleges and universities, K through 12 school districts, and the business community; align education and training strategies with employer needs in key industries; develop an education and training strategy for key industries based on an understanding of future workforce and skill needs; and identify current programs that may be underutilized that could prepare students for jobs in key industries.

The Advisory Boards will be overseen by the “New Jersey Workforce Development and Education Commission,” created under the bill and consisting of the Secretary of Higher Education, the Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Commissioner of the Department of Education and a representative of the New Jersey Business Action Center.

The measure is part of a four-bill package focused on workforce training and job creation that is working its way through the Senate. It was approved by the Higher Education Committee with a vote of 4-0. It will head to the full Senate for consideration.